bates



stent Hirt.

MPROVED SPRING FOB. BED BOTTUMS AND OTHER PURPOSES.

@Le .rlgcttle metta tu it tigen gtrtett ttett mit noting putt n' tlg time.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY GONGEBN:

Be it known that I, L. M. BATES, of Newark, in the countyof Licking, in the State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful improvement in Elastic Gum Springs for Bed Bottoms and Other Purposes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, the same being- Figure 1, a perspective view of one of my springs detached.

Figure 2, an elevation of the same showing it in place supporting the slat ot' a bed bottoni.

Figure 3 is a plan View of a bedstead having the slats suspended by my springs.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a tensile spring of elastic gum, which may be applied ,to the support of bed bottoms and other like purposes without the use `of clamps and such like appliances, which add materially to'the expense and trouble of application.

That others may understand my invention, its form and use, I will describe it.

A represents the body of my spring, which is composed of elastic material, as India rubber, and isin size proportionate tothe use to which it is to be subjected. For the purpose of a bed spring the shaft should be about three inches in length by three-eighths of one inch in diameter. At each end of the shaft A is astout head of the same material. The entire article is made in one piece and at one operation. In applying this spring to use a supporting strip, B, is required, which in the case of a bed bottom may be attached to the inner side of the rail of the hcdstead near its upper edge. This supporting strip is notched along its edge, as at b, said notches being of a size suiicient to admit the shaft A of 'the spring. The head of the springthen rests upon the upper side of the supporting strip, while the shaft passes through the notch Z1 and dep ends below the strip B, as clearly shown. The end oi" the Slat has a notch, c, corresponding to the notch b, and when the spring and the slet, or other device to' be supported, are in position, then the other head of the spring rests against the lower side of said Slat and connects it to the frame above it. It is necessary that the slat should be suiiciently long so that when both ends are supported in this way the springs will be vertical, and therefore not liable to be removed from their notches by their own action. The slats may be even little longer than necessary to allow the springs to hang vertically, and in that case they will bea little wider apart at their lower than at their upper ends, and the tendency will thenA always be to draw them deeper into their notches. It is evident that it is not necessary that the shaft of this spring should be cylindrical; it may be flat if desired, and thereby increase its strength without increasing its diameter except in one direction. It is also evident that a spring constructed as described may be used with economy in other places than bedsteads.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The tensile spring A, composed of elastic gum, and furnished with two heads, as and for the purpost described.

L. M. BATES.

Witnesses:

R. D. O.l SMITH, ANDREW WnlrsLnY. 

